3 May 2019

Comanchero case: Lawyer and media personality plead not guilty

1:29 pm on 3 May 2019

Two men - a lawyer and a media personality - have appeared in the Auckland District Court after a major raid on the Comanchero motorcycle gang.

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A car was among the assets taken by police during a raid on Comanchero motorcycle gang's properties last month. Photo: Supplied by Police

Police raided 10 Auckland properties last month, seizing about $4 million worth of assets and arresting 11 people.

Shortly after the raid, police said the gang had become established in east Auckland after patched Australian deportees established a chapter.

Both people who appeared today were granted interim name suppression.

The 41-year-old solicitor, charged with being part of an organised crime group and money laundering offences, entered a not guilty plea and elected trial by jury.

Judge Robert Ronayne remanded him on bail to 3 July.

The media personality is charged with one count of using almost $300,000 in laundered money from April 2017 to the end of Nov 2018. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea and elected trial by jury on his behalf.

A name suppression hearing for the media personality has been set down for 17 May. He was remanded on bail.

Earlier this week, four men arrested after the police raids in April appeared in court. They denied all the charges against them and are due to appear again in July.